The distinctly colored cats were given as royal gifts, which is how the breed made its way from Asia to Europe in 1884, when a British consul-general brought a breeding pair of Siamese home to his sister. In 1878, a Siamese cat arrived in the United States as a gift to President Rutherford B. Hayes (which may have started the tradition of presidential Siamese).

Despite how many shapes Siamese have taken (they're known as Traditional Siamese, Old Style Siamese, Classic Siamese, and Appleheads) they all have a reputation for being extremely vocal cats who will let you know what's on their minds. They're known for being outgoing cats, who might behave more like canines than felines.

Their distinct markings are a result of partial albinism -- all Siamese are born pure white, and then gradually develop their dark points. Blue eyes are also characteristic of Siamese, though sometimes the cats are cross-eyed.

Do you have a Siamese cat at home? Is your Siamese as talkative as the breed's reputation? Let us know in the comments!

Speaking of cat breeds, how do you feel about naked cats? And we're sure you know about breed-specific legislation for dogs, but did you know it exists for cats too? No matter which breed of cat you've got, they're all just like us.